Latch



Nov. s, 1927.

A. F. WINTERS ET AL 'LATCH Enea Nov. ,29; 21926 s sheets-sheet 1 Nom 8, 1927. l A. 'F'. WINTERS ET AI.

` LATCH` Filed Nov. 29, 1926 s 2 Y 5 t wn? u ri ,n h Wm v S @wha O y w r. w. hwg. a l 0R m 5 No m Nov. 8, 92 7.

' A. F. WINTERS ET AL LATCH v Filed Nov. 29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov.. 8, i927.

narran stares annxnamnn r. wm'rnns am) Basri.. n. cnam'rron, or GRAND nnrrnamrcnman.

, attente sdram' ortica.

LATCH.

Application led November 25.9, 1926. Serial No. 151,279.

This invention relates to latches of the type which are used. onrefrigerators, cabinets, cupboards and the like. lt is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide a latch which may be swung in tending from the keeper, thereby releasing.

the latch for movement into engaging position with the hook of the keeper. By reason of the fact that the latch lever may be swung in either direction, said latch, without change, may be used on doors swinging v either to the right or to the left, and it is not necessary to keep stocks of the two kinds of latches on hand nor is there any necessity of selecting any 'particular latch or either a right or a left hand swinging door.

in order that'a latch, after attachment'to thedoor,shall not beswungl in the wrong direction and held therein, in which case it would 'strike against the keeper to the detriment of the latch, a further object of the invention is to provide a simple means for insuring against any such occurrence. means which wev have provided is one that can be made eective immediately prior. to the attachment of the latch to the door and whether it is to be attached to -a door swinging to the right orto the left.

Still vfurther objects of the invention are to provide a latchconstruction ofv the type outlined which is attractive inappearance and economical to manufacture, and 1n which v the spring which is Aused to lnormally hold the latch in operative position is housed within-the body of the latch lever and inA which'the assembly ofthe parts is very simple and easy to accomplish. Many other 0b- ]ects and purposes than those stated together with novel constructions for attaining the same will be apparent as an understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken inconnection with the ac-v companying draw' Fig. 1 is aront e evation of a latch 'made s, in which,

in accordance with our invention,- the latch being attached to a door and a keeper therefor to a door-casing, and with'the up er side of thelatch liousing.l removed to disc ose the interior construction.

rEhe

'its inner side with a downwardl Fig. .2 is a horizontal section through the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through thelatch and .door shown in Fig. '1.

Fig 4 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. l, the latch being shown heldin inoperative position, that which it occupies during the time that t-he door is open'.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of latch shownv in Fig. 4, looking at the same from the left.

Fig. 6 is a kperspective view of the' baseplate of the latch.

Fig. 7 isa perspective view parts vwhich make up the' latch lever, the same being shown disassembled and with certainV parts broken away for a better disclosure of' the structure. v

Fig. 8 is a view similar to trating the latchy but with a slightly diderent form of base plate which may be used to` Fig. i 4, illuS- of the -several l hold the latch against movement in one di-l ,i

rection away from its normal centralv posi.

tion.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through the construction shown lin Fig. 8.`

` Fig. l0 is a vertical section through the latch and door, shown in Fig. 8, and f 1Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the hase ate. p Like reference characters refer to, like parts in the different figures of thedraw- Y. .l .Y

this can be done on the latch irrespective-'of ingfsl.1 d A e latch proper is a apted to be at wardly extending hook 5 which is formed at its outer edge with a 'downwardly and outwardly extending cam surface 6 land* at and in' wardlyinclined wedging surface Above' the (post 4, a post or finger 8 extends out? war ly'from the'base 3, its outer end having a downwardly and inwardly inclined edge 9. The post .or linger 8 is shorter than the keeperproper including the hook 5, so that the end of the latch lever may pass between` the finger and the keeper hook. y

The latch proper which is .attached to the door includes an outer casing of sheet metal having a top or outer side 10 from which upper and lower inturned sides 11 extend,

substantially .fiat attaching ears or flanges 12, through which screws are passed to attach the latch to the doorl. The housing formed by the top and sides 11 is completed at -one vside by a side 13, while the other side or that nearest the edge of the door is substantially open. The side 13 1s also provided with lan opening for the pas- 4sage of the latch lever.

, Against the inner side of the top 10 a bar 14 is locatedhorizontally and has its ends turned inwardly for a short distance, suitable tonguesl being turned inwardly into notches in the ends of the bar 14 from the ends of the housingso as to .permanently secure the bar in place. A pivot pin 17 v1s fastened at onev end to the bar 14 near the end 13 of the housing and extends therefrom as best shown in Fig. 2.

The latch lever is formed lfrom a piece of -flat metal, the intermediate portion being made into channel form having aweb 18 I with inwardly extending parallel flanges 19.

' flange 19 of the latch lever.

' vam im At one end of the latch leverthemetal is continued, bent outwardly and thence extended horizontally and formed into a handle 20 which lies outside of the latch housing or casing. The opposite end is likewise formed into a keeper engaging portion 21, that is, the flanges of the channel arecurved and bent inwardly toward each other and the space between the anges closed at the endby an integral portion of the metal from which the latch lever is made, all as fully shown in Fig. 7. A circular opening 22 is made,`

in the'web 18 through which the post 17 passes and near said opening the web 18 is cut away to make anv elongated opening 23, at the outer end of which a tongue 24, integral with the web 18 is turned inwardly, this being also shown in Fig. 7. A

Over the intermediate4 portion of the latch lever a member of sheet metal is placed comprisin a central web 25 which lies directly over t e opening 23 and from which flanges 26 extend inwardly, one along side each At its outer end the web 25 is formed into two diverging fingers 27, the ends of which arev adapte to bear against the inner side ofthe side 13 of the housing when the latch lever is in its middle position as shown in Fig. 1. The

outer side or web 25 has a tongue 28' struckv tween. the two tongues 24- and 28 a coiledspring 29 vunder compression is located. It will be noted, referring lto Fi res'2 and 9, that when the,latch is 'assemb ed the web 25 and iin rs 27 arel arranged at an angle to lever so that when the Y'latch `lever is mounted on the pivot 17 the tendency of the lever is to rock at 'its end 21 inwardly toward the door or base plate which is "1obein caused by a component of the spring 29, ue to the angular location of the lingers 27 and the web 25 as described. The opening 22 through the web 18 of the latch lever is suiiciently lar e to permit the slight'rocking movement w ich occurs.

The base plate 30 is a plate of sheet metal having a sha e to fit the'inner side of the housing and t e attaching flanges 12 thereof. The edge of the plate at the open outer end ofthe housing is equipped with a shelf member 31 of, triangular form which is turned back on the shelf and lies flat thereagainst having opposite edges 32, one at the upper and one at the lower side of the shelf member. Also a short distance from the shelf member 31 two tongues 33 are lturned back against the base plate and spaced a short distance from each tongue is an .attaohing finger 34 each adapted to fit in a. suitable slot formed in the housing. This,

however, is not aV feature of the present in 'each being then turned outwardly to make cated at the inner side of the housing, this i vention. The base plate is lattached to ther housing by engaging fingers 34 in their slots and then passing a screw 36 into the pivot -pin or post 17 throughan opening 35 made in the ase plate. It is also apparent that the necessary openings for passageof the '.screws which attach the latch to the door are provided in the base plate, as sho-wn in Fig. 6. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a slightly different form of base plate is provided and one which for many reasons is preferred. The only difference is that the plain base plate which shown in Fig. 6 is cut so as to rovide two spaced apart stops 37 which, w 'en the latch is assembled, are flat and lie in the rame plane with the plate but either one of which may be pushed above the plane lof the plate for a short distance in avery simple manner, such as by pressing against the end of a 'stop `with a screw driver.

The latch described isvery practicaland useful. When attached to a door, upon grasping the handle 2O and pulling wardly and outwardly thereon the latch lever is swung about the pivot or post 17. The upper finger 27 bears against the side 13 of the housing whereupon the member to which the finger is attached is moved longitudinally` of the latch lever and compresses the spring 29. When the lever has moved to' its extreme upper position it passes by the upper edge 32'of the shelf member 31 and moves inwardly at its keeper engaging end so as to engage with the shelf when vthe latch lever is freed. The tongue 33 above the shelf member 31 in' such case lies between the flanges 19 ofthe lever. The latch lever is held in its retracted position all l'of the time that the door is o en. On closing the door the pro'lecting en 21 of the lever .strikes against lt e inclined edge 9 of the finger 8 on the keeper, whereupon the lever downis tripped and disengaged from the retaining shelf 31 and moves to engaging posi latch. The manner of holding the latch in retracted position and tripping' it when the door is closed is the same.

It is apparent, of course, that with the construction of base plate as shown in Figs."

4, 5 and 6 the lever could be turned in the wrong direction and held in retracted position against the under edge 32 of theshelf 31. If'this should occur, then on closing the door the projecting end 21of the lever would strike against the keeper below the cam surface 6 thereof with likelihood -of injury to the latch or keeper or the fastenings which secure the same to the door .and door casing. lt is, accordingly, preferred to use the base plate such as lshown in Figs.

8 to 11, inclusive. With such base plate, one of the stops 37 may be pressed inwardly, as shown in Figs. 9,l 10 and 11 and it will serve as astop to prevent the lever moving to and being held in such undesired position. Either one'of the stops 37 may be bent depending upon whether the latch is to be used on a right or left swinging door.

The construction is compact, simple to manufacture, very durable and eflicient and is especially easy to assemble. rihe parts shown in Fig. 7 can be laced together with- `out the'use of tools, t en the lever placed over the ivotor post 17 and the base plate attached y use of a single screw 6. The housing of the spring 29vmakes a very compact and eiiicient structure. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all `forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim: Y

l. In a latch, a. covering casing, a latch ivotally mounted within the casin a mem er slidably mounted on the latch ar having diverging fingers engaging against an end of the casing, and spring means disposed between said atch bar and said member normally holding the latch -bar at a central position from which it may be rocked in' either direction.

. 2. A latch comprising, a. housing, alatchl bar pivotally mounted within the housing,

said latch bar having an elongated opening therethrough, a member slidably mounted .on the latch ba'rfhavin itwo diverging. iingers at one end adap to bear against an end of the housing and havinga tongue `extending into said opening in the latch bar, and a coiled spring disposedbetween said tongue and the opposite end Iof the spring bearing against the latch bar at an end of said opening.

3. A latch comprising, a housing, a-latch bar pivotally mounted in saidhousing, said latch bar being of channel form.l having an .outer web and inwardly extending spaced apart flanges, the web being-cut away a short distancev from the pivot'to make any elongated opening, a portiony of the web at one end of the opening beingturned inwardly, 'a member of channel form located over the latch bar and having a. tongue struck therefrom extending into the open- V.ing in the latch bar a distance from the tongue on said bar, a coiled spring under I compression located between the angcs of said latch bar and having its ends bearing against said tongues, and divergingv fingers extending from said member one to each side o f the pivot of the bar and bearing at their ends against an end of the .hous-` ing whereby the latch bar -is normally held in central position.

4. In a, latch, a support, a latch bar pivotally mounted thereon, a base plate located under the latch bar -and having a shelf at one edge with opposite edges coming to .f1 point, each lying at an angle to the horizontal, sprmg means housed within the latch bar, ,and means slidably mounted on the latch bar with which the spring .means engages, said means mounted on the latch bar eing formedv with diverging fingers, the ends of which abut against said support to normally -hold the bar in centrall position over said shelf.

5. A construction containing the elements i in combination defined in claim 4, said base plate being formed with stop members lying 1n the plane of. the plate and adapted to be pressed to one side of the plane of the plate so as to stop `swinging movement of 'the latch lever in one direction, one of said stops being used to limit the swinging movement of the latch' member in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.

6. In a constructionfof the class described,

a metal vcovering housing, a base plate closing the inner side of the housing, a pivot pin disposed between the housing and base plate, a latch lever pivotally mounted on said pivot pin to swing tlo either side of a central horlzontal position, said latch lever havin anelongated longitudinal opening ltheret rough, acoiled spring located in said opening, a sheet metal member of channel form located'over the latch lever and having im i a tongue struck inwardly therefromI extending into said opening in the latch lever and and 'diver ing fingers extending from one lagainst `whichone end of thespring bears, v

the plane of said member, the ends of the fingers bearing against the inner side of the end of the housing.

'7. A latch comprising, a covering hous.- ing, a base plate closing the inner `side ofy the housing, a shelf member located atene edgev of the base plate substantially midway between'its upperand lower edges and hav/ ing upper and lower shelf edges coming to a point and located at an angle to the horizontal, said shelf member also aboveoand below the 'central horizontal middle line of said plate, having stop tongues cut from the plate and lying in the plane of the plate, either one thereof being adapted to bebent at its free end to one side of the plane of the plate, a pivot pin-between the base plate and housing, a latch lever pivotally mounted to rock on said. pin, and spring means cooperatin with the latch lever to normally hold itin centralhorizontal position, said llever engaging with an -edge ofl the shelf when swung in either direction away from its normal position suiiicient to carry it beyond either ledge of the shelf.

f 8. A- latch comprising, a latchv housing, a latch lever pivotally mounted in said.` housing, spring means housedwit-hin -the latch and an abutment member slidably moun on the latch and engaging with said spring means'and also with` an end ofthe housing at two spaced apart points-[whereby the leveris normally held inan intermediate` cene.

4trafl position but may be swung in eitherdirection away from such position.

9. A latch construction` comprising, a

`pivotally mounted latch bar,- shelf means under said barhaving two edgeswith either ofwhich the bar is' adapted to-engage when swung in op ,in-the opposite direction.

ite directions from'a normal central'position, spring means housed within the latchy bar, and means slidablymounted on the bar with which said spring means engages, lcombined with an abutment againsty which rvsaid slidable means engages to hold the'latch bar in normal central position.

10.` A latch construction comprising, a pivotally mounted latch bar, a member slidably mounted on the latch bar, having a ing, means associated with the latch vmember and housing and normally holding said latch lever in a central position from which plate closing the inner side of the housing, and stop'means on said base, plate for preventing swinging movement of the lever in one direction away from its normal position, `but permitting free' movement thereof 12. -A latch comprlsing, alatch housing, a latch, lever pivotallymounted lin said housl it may be rocked in either direction, a base ing, means associated with' the lever' and.

housing for yieldingly holding .the lever in a'central normal Aposition a base' plate c1osin the inner side of the l1 abe stopsv on said base plate, one at each `side of the lever, eitherone of-which may bebent into. the lever. x In testimony whereof we aix oui` signa- ALEXANDER F.'WINTERS. vBASIL R. CRAMPTON.

path `of movement of said ousing,and bend'- 

